In the main hall of the prefect's mansion, Song Jinyu looked dejected.
"Father, you're not trying to arrange another match for me, are you..."
She had been chatting merrily with Cheng Song and Niaoniao just now when a servant sent by her father took her to the study. She thought it was something urgent, but instead, she had to listen to her father go on about how wonderful some prince she had never met was.
Thinking of what her father had said before about marriage, Song Jinyu couldn't help but feel resistant and inexplicably irritable.
Actually, it's no wonder that Song Qinzhou was so excited. As an official of the court, he had heard six months ago that the emperor had designated Liuzhou City, Yanzhou Prefecture, and Yongzhou Prefecture as the fiefdom of Prince Yu.
He never expected that this mysterious prince would finally choose Liuzhou City as his residence and order Song Qinzhou to build the Prince Yu's Mansion.
Just now, the prince had even visited the prefect's mansion in person and bestowed a lot of gold, silver, and jewels. How could Song Qinzhou not be happy?
"Silly girl, you already have a betrothal. How could I betroth you to someone else? By the way, these are the jewelry pieces bestowed by Prince Yu. Pick out a few you like and send some to your younger sister..."
Song Jinyu automatically ignored the exquisite jewelry on the table. From the moment her father uttered the word "betrothal", these two words started to loop infinitely in her mind.
Betrothal? When had she secretly promised herself to someone?
"Father, this betrothal..." Song Jinyu frowned, not knowing where her father's words were coming from.
"You were still young before, so I didn't tell you about this. Your mother and Mrs. He were lifelong friends. They arranged a betrothal for you two when you were still in the womb."
Song Qinzhou's words were like a thunderbolt from the blue, making Song Jinyu feel dizzy. She had been casually betrothed to someone she had never met?
"Father, do you think there's still... well, any room for negotiation?" Song Jinyu came to her father with a playful smile, her eyes full of the cunning of a little fox.
"No! Marriage is no joking matter!" It was the height of autumn. The wind blew and the leaves fell. The coolness swept into the room. Her father's flat refusal dashed Song Jinyu's little hopes.
She gently bit her red lips. Her father's serious face made Song Jinyu feel disheartened. The joints of her fingers clutching the corner of her clothes turned white from the force. Her eyes dimmed. Song Jinyu bowed silently, turned around, and left without saying a word.
"Father, forgive your daughter for being unfilial. I will never recognize this betrothal, no matter what!"
"The order of parents and the words of the matchmaker cannot be defied. Moreover... this was your mother's last wish!"
Hearing the words "last wish", Song Jinyu paused slightly in her elegant steps. A look of struggle flashed across her beautiful eyes, but in the end, she didn't turn back. Her back was resolute...
Song Qinzhou didn't scold her. He let Song Jinyu leave. His daughter seemed weak, but in fact, she had an unusual stubbornness in her bones. He hoped she could understand his painstaking efforts.
All day long, Song Jinyu was thinking about the sudden betrothal. Even when she was sending medicinal food to her sister - in - law, she still looked dejected.
"The red beans grow in the southern land. In spring, how many twigs do they send forth? Jinyu, are you thinking of your sweetheart?" Xiang Shi said teasingly.
Thanks to Song Jinyu's care, Xiang Shi's complexion had improved a lot in recent days.
Seeing Song Jinyu looking puzzled, Xiang Shi said in surprise, "I'm talking about Young Master He, who is betrothed to you. Don't you go to every flower - viewing banquet?"
"Sister - in - law, I've been practicing medicine on Tianmen Mountain in recent years and never left the mountain. How could I have gone to any flower - viewing banquets?" Song Jinyu put down the medicinal herbs in her hand and looked skeptical.
Xiang Shi would surely not lie. After a few seconds of hesitation, they instantly understood.
Song Jinyu brushed off the dregs of the medicinal herbs on her jade - like hand, turned around, and looked at Niaoniao, who was coming in with medicinal herbs.
"Niaoniao, go and check on the interactions between the eldest cousin and the He Mansion in recent years."
A charming and dangerous arc appeared on her lips. The beautiful - eyed woman narrowed her eyes like a cat. Song Jinyu sneered contemptuously and flicked the table with her slender finger.
"If she likes this husband she's never met, I'll give him to her."
In Liuzhou City, at the Prince Yu's Mansion...
The cold wind blew, picking up the fragrance of the autumn chrysanthemums and winding around the corridor. A man stood still in the corridor, looking up to take in the scenery. The wind fluttered his clothes, and a sense of loneliness and coldness emanated from him.
He was not dressed in white, yet he was more noble than a marquis. His enchanting eyes were full of arrogance. The cold and imposing look of someone who had long been in a high position was extraordinary. It seemed that he held all the affairs of the world in his hands. It was as if what was in front of him was not a courtyard but a vast and beautiful country.
"My lord, your subordinate has found out that the Song family has a betrothal with the He family. The wedding date is approaching..." A guard rushed over and knelt on one knee to report the information he had found out in the past few days.
"The He family? Interesting... Thoroughly investigate this matter. Also, inform all the officials and noble families in Liuzhou."
"Tell them that Prince Yu will host a flower - viewing banquet in a few days!"
He wanted to see who on earth dared to compete with him for a woman!